Which "non-archery" magazine?

[Liquid Amber]

Frentz
The Archery Field
Spalding

[Tox Collector]

Nice work Liquid Amber -- first two answers are correct; however, the answer to question "3" is John Wilkinson of Chicago.

Tox Collector

[Liquid Amber]

I didn't have time to dig around for #3 and knew Spalding was from Chicag and Chicago was "the" west at that time...so I just took a shot.  

Frentz published a number of archery related articles and his stuff still remains a good source of early history and I have used the article in question as reference many times.  I still have a couple to locate and acquire still.

Do you have any stuff Will wrote for The Archery Field?

[Tox Collector]

I thought that you might have the Frentz article.  It's a great article, and it provides a nice historical perspective on American archery during the late 1800's.  

Spaulding was a excellent guess for No. 3.  Spaulding, of course, published "Archery" by James S. Mitchell in 1895, "Spaulding's Official Archery Guide" compiled by Louis W. Maxson in 1906 [two editions of the 1906 booklet were produced] and "Spaulding's Official Archery Guide" compiled by Louis W. Maxson and revised by Edward B. Weston in 1910.  It was this latter Spaulding pamphlet that Dr. Robert P. Elmer referred to when he took up archery.  Elmer corresponded with Weston in 1910 concerning equipment and shooting style.  Dr. Elmer had turned to archery as a result of his foot being run overy by a wagon loaded with coal several years earlier.  If that had not happened, we wouldn't have had the benefit of all of his books as well as the revitalization of the United Bowmen.  Today, these Spaulding booklets are becoming quite rare to find especially in nice condition.  

Spaulding was a relatively large player in the archery arena in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  They imported archery tackle from Aldred's in England as well as produced their own archery goods.

I am off to visit my daughter today in New York so I will check on your Will Thompson question when I get back.  As I recall from my review of "Archery Field" for the 1881 year [I only have the 1881 year], most of the commentary involved meets, scores and that sort of information -- not the more interesting type articles identified in the bibliographies mentioned above.  

Tox Collector

[Tox Collector]

Liquid Amber - I checked the volume of The Archery Field that I have and didn't locate anything of real value written by Will Thompson.  The publication concerns itself with tournaments, scores, etc.  The last issue noted that it was going out of business because it cost them a nickle to publish the periodical and their income was only 2 cents an issue.

One item that I have is an "Archery Scrapbook, 1879-1916" compiled by Albert Kern [see pp. 408 of "A Bibliography of Archery" by Lake and Wright].  I contains cuttings, some photos as well correspondence between Kern and other prominent archers of that era including the Thompsons and L. W. Maxson, etc.  

Kern had been president of the NAA in 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1895.  His wife was the NAA women's champion in 1894 as well as the NAA women's flight champion in 1889, 1890 and 1899.  

Edward B. Weston, who was president of the NAA at that time, wrote a letter to members in March of 1908 encouraging members to "encourage and promote archery...".  He noted "archery in the March magazines:  Recreation, NY ["The Gentle Pastime of Archery", by Edwin L. Sabin]; Western Field, San Francisco ["Archery - The Sport of All Ages by Arthur Inkersley]; The Sportmen's Review, Cincinnati ["A Gold at One Hundred Yeards", by Frank E. Canfield];  The Sporting Goods Dealer, St. Louis ["About Archery", by Cortice Chancellor].  He also stated that A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago will have for sale "Archery for Beginners" by Col. H. Walrond, London noting that it is a valuable little book.

The magazines you have cited in your bibliographies provide the best look at archery during those years.      

Tox Collector